by L. T. Ryan
He’d wanted to enter the restaurant, but decided against it while the team worked. So he continued past them, then came to a stop behind the spot where the hotel had stood. The hill of rubble blocked him from anyone on the other side of the building. Not that it mattered. He was in the heart of it now. The people here were busy working, not protecting the scene of the attack.
Jack spotted a blue police issued windbreaker hanging from a post. He glanced around, then pulled the jacket from its perch and put it on. If anything, it would attract fewer questioning eyes in his direction. He decided that if questioned, he’d state that the U.S. agency SIS had sent him to assist MI5. It’d take the authorities several hours to track down Frank Skinner, acting director of the SIS, by which point Jack would have made contact and Frank would have everything in place.
So Jack rounded the remains of the building. He made his way through the scattered concrete slabs that lay in the street. It was difficult to avoid the dried pools of blood. A clump of matted hair that stuck to a jagged section of the building’s facade caught his eye. Linens and clothes littered the road. Papers rode the wind. A fine powder-like layer of dust coated everything.
He spotted a patch of brown, knelt down and moved a pile of debris aside. He reached in and pulled out a teddy bear. The stuffed toy was intact, if not a bit dirty. He rose, patted the stuffed bear. A gray plume rose into the air in front of him. He continued on his way, teddy bear in hand.
“You there,” a female voice called from his left.
Jack ignored the voice, kept moving forward.
“I said, you there. Wait up.”
Jack stopped. He went over his story in his head again.
“What did you find over there?”
Jack turned toward the woman. Her brown hair was pulled back tight in a ponytail. She lifted her glasses and rested them on her head. She had gray eyes with bursts of green and brown. He figured she stood about five-six. The wind caused her baggy jacket to hug her torso, revealing her slender build.
“Well?” she said.
He held out the bear. “I’m hoping there’s a child looking for this.”
“You’re American.”
“You’re kidding.”
She cocked her head, smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m with a counter-terrorism organization. We’ve often worked hand in hand with MI5 and MI6. They sent me over immediately.”
“Why do you have a police jacket on?”
“Didn’t come prepared. An officer had a spare, let me borrow it.”
“What was his name?”
“I should get going.” He turned and started toward the front of the building.
She followed. “What’s your name?”
“Jack.”
“Jack what?”
“Jack is all I can tell you. The rest is classified.”
“And you’d have to kill me to tell me, right?”
“Only in the U.S., ma’am.”
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem telling me in London. We won’t be breaking any treaties that I’m aware of.”
“It’s better that you don’t know, Ms.?”
“Sasha.”
“Sasha what?”
“That’s classified, and if I told you, I would have to kill you.”
Jack smiled. “Fair enough.”
“I’ll take that teddy bear, Jack. They’ve got a little collection shrine type thing going on over there.”
Jack stopped, faced Sasha. He extended the bear toward her. She reached for it. He didn’t immediately let go.
“Find me before you leave,” she said.
“Why?” he said.
“I’d like to exchange notes.”
With that, she turned and jogged away. Jack watched her for a minute, then continued toward the front of the building. When he approached the corner, he noticed an uptick in the chatter level. He kept moving forward. A large group of agents stood on the street in front of the hotel. All but one of them ignored him.
Jack noticed the guy standing off to the side. The man’s stare fell upon Jack and didn’t waver. Jack stopped, knelt, pretended to investigate something on the ground. He kept the agent in his peripheral vision. When the man started walking his way, Jack rose and turned away.
“Jack Noble,” the man said.
Jack looked over his shoulder. The man extended his hand above his shoulder as he got nearer. He waved, called out for Jack again.
Jack turned to face the guy.
“Jon Hayes,” the man said. “We worked together, maybe ten years ago when I was in the SAS and you were—”
“A Marine working with the CIA.”
Jon nodded. “What brings you here?”
Jack looked toward the group of people in front of the building. “You with them?”
“Only one.”
“Who?”
“The only important one.”
“Which is?”
“The Prime Minister.”
Jack squinted and scanned the group of agents until he saw another face he recognized. “Wait a minute. Your Alex Parkin is Prime Minister Alex Parkin.”
Jon smiled. “Come on, old friend. Let’s go have a chat.”
Episode 14
CHAPTER 41
Alex pushed through the tangle of agents, cops and reporters. He moved toward the rubble. A sea of voices called for him, full of questions he had no answer for. Everything he had been prepared to say to them had slipped his mind. All he could think of were the hundreds who had perished in the attack. The children who’d lost a parent. The parents who’d lost a child. Friends and neighbors, gone. He oversaw a nation that feared they’d lost their might.
Alex spotted Jon talking to a man. The guy looked familiar, but he couldn’t place him. Alex turned around, placed his hand on his copper’s shoulder, and said, “Keep them back.”
As he approached, Jon nodded and gestured for Alex to join them.
He walked toward the men, his gaze alternated between Jon and the man, and the destruction that surrounded them. It seemed surreal. He wondered why this had happened. No one credible had yet stepped forth and claimed responsibility for the attack. Would they find clues at the bottom of the rubble? Would they unearth important information inside the restaurant?
As Alex neared, the familiar looking man stepped forward, extended his hand and said, “Prime Minister, good to see you again.”
Alex nodded, shot Jon a look.
Jon said, “This is Jack Noble, Alex. We ran a few missions with him some ten years ago.”
Alex thought back. So much had happened since then that a lot of the details had faded into some recess in his mind.
“You were partners with the big guy, right? What was his name? Moose?”
“Bear,” Jack said with a smile.
“Ah, that’s right, Bear. What is he up to these days? How have you been? What are you doing here?”
Jack glanced around. “I have information that might help you get to the bottom of this attack.”
Alex glanced at Jon and lifted an eyebrow. Jon shrugged as if this were news to him, too.
“Do go on, Jack,” Alex said.
“Can’t. Not here, out in the open.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not safe.”
Alex held out his hands and looked back over his shoulder. “All those men serve me. I assure you, it is safe here.”
“And the reporters, too?” Jack said. “They have your best interest at heart?”
Alex said nothing.
“What about those agents over there?” Jack said, gesturing toward a group that had gathered on the other side of the street and watched the meeting with interest. “How do you know one of them isn’t involved in this?”
“That’s enough, Jack,” Jon said.
“I share your concerns,” Alex said. “But if you have information, I need to hear it. Jon needs to hear it. For the love of God, everyone that can help needs to hear it.”
Jack nodded, said nothing.
“Let’s go to the car,” Jon said.
“And travel through that mess,” Jack said, his eyes on the reporters.
“They’ve already snapped your picture. You can expect to be in the papers.”
The guy grimaced, something that Alex understood well. He’d never gotten used to the idea of the paparazzi always in his face. Even legitimate reporters stayed too close these days.
“Well, have you any ideas?” Alex said.
Jack glanced around, his eyes settled on a spot over Alex’s shoulder.
“How about in there?” Jack said.
Alex turned, saw a shop with its door open. A woman appeared with a garage broom in hand. She pushed a large pile of dust and debris out of the store. It erupted into a cloud as it slid over the curb.
“Think it’s safe in there?” Alex said.
“I was in there the other day. It’s safe.”
Alex and Jon looked at each other.
“Which day?” Jon said.
“Did you see the attack happen?” Alex said.
“No,” Jack said. “It was before that.”
“Let’s go,” Alex said.
“Prime Minister,” a woman called out.
Alex stopped, turned, saw Sasha Kirby headed his way. The woman had been a fast riser within the ranks of MI6. She’d earned Alex’s and Jon’s trust along the way, and now personally advised Alex on matters of national security. He’d yet to speak with her since the attacks.
She came over, nodded at each man.
“Agent Kirby, this is Jack Noble.” Alex extended his hand toward Jack.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Noble,” she said.
“Likewise, Ms. Kirby.”
The two shared a smile.
“Right,” Alex said. “Well, Agent Kirby, Mr. Noble has information about the attack. We were about to go talk in private. I’d like you to join us. He might have some information that will help your investigation.”
She nodded and they started toward the shop. Jack and Jon led the way. Agent Kirby walked next to Alex. No one spoke. Jon wagged a finger at the reporters who came toward them, and at the cameramen who raised their devices over their heads like submarine periscopes. There would be no prying eyes or ears invited to this discussion.
CHAPTER 42
The paper thin barrier that blocked off the attack site would do little to stop Bear from crossing. The police ten feet away with HK MP5s draped over their chests were a different story. He approached the yellow police tape with Mandy hanging on to the back of his shirt. The sight of the collapsed hotel made his heart sink. If Jack had been inside, there was no way he was still alive. Bear had to accept that now and be prepared in case he never found his friend.
They’d come straight from the airport. He hadn’t arranged accommodations and had no idea where they’d go next. The black taxi expertly navigated traffic filled roads and let them off a couple blocks away. They’d walk the rest. Crossing the street had been an adventure. Some drivers had no respect for a pedestrian in the street, it seemed. He’d witnessed traffic in most major cities in the U.S., but the drivers in London, and many European cities for that matter, took aggressive driving to a whole new level.
“It smells funny,” Mandy said.
He squeezed her hand, looked down at her, nodded. He’d noticed the odor before he stepped out of the cab. He imagined that most of the apartments and offices in the surrounding area were steeped in it. He presumed that the locals had probably started to become used to the mixture of lingering dust and smoke by now. The odor at least. The physical effects were a different story. Those with a predisposition likely struggled with dry eyes, itchy throats, burning lungs.
Behind the tape were tight faces, questioning eyes, men and women wearing blue windbreakers.
Bear approached the tape, veered toward a female agent who stood about five feet behind the line. He caught her attention. The woman looked at him, then down at Mandy. She gave the girl a smile.
“I’m trying to find information on someone.”
The woman pointed. “There is a table over there. Those people can help you.”
Bear shook his head. “No, this is different. I need to get past this line.”
The woman took a step back, pulled her pistol.
Mandy grabbed hold of Bear’s shirt and scooted behind him.
Bear lifted his hands. “It’s not like that.”
“I need you to back away, sir.”
The crowd surrounding them shifted back. All eyes fell upon Bear. He’d also attracted the attention of several other agents and police officers. They approached from both sides, guns drawn.
“I said back away,” the woman’s voice rose.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Bear said.
“Sir,” a man shouted. “You need to turn around and leave or else we’ll be forced to detain you.”
“You want to detain me?” Bear shouted back. He’d lost his patience, and perhaps his sanity. “Fine, you do that. Maybe then I’ll end up in front of someone with half a brain who’ll help me out instead of trying to send me away.”
Three male officers ducked under the tape and came toward him, weapons extended. Two holstered their weapons and reached for Bear’s arms. He stepped forward to create some distance between them and Mandy, but the girl held onto his shirt and stayed close.
The officers grabbed his arm. He resisted, shouted. They shouted back. The third officer threatened to shoot.
“Bear.” The shout came from behind the yellow line.
Bear shifted his focus from the cops to the groups of people surrounding the attack site. He didn’t see anyone he recognized. Again, someone shouted his name.
“Who’s calling your name, Bear?” Mandy said.
The cops eased off as Bear let them have control of his arms. He continued to scan the faces behind the line. The warm breeze carried his name to him a third time. It echoed off the buildings. He saw arms waving and a face he’d recognize anywhere.
“Son of a bitch,” he said. “It’s Jack, sweetie.”
CHAPTER 43
Jack started toward Bear at a quick pace. “Tell those men to let go of him,” he said to Jon.
Jon rushed to Jack’s side. They jogged toward the gathering near the perimeter. “Is that Logan?”
“Yeah.”
“You there, officers,” Jon shouted. “Let that man go. He’s with us.”
Jack and Jon slowed to a walk as the officers escorted Bear and Mandy past the police line. A minute later the two friends embraced.
“Christ, Jack, I thought you were dead.”
Jack pulled back, looked at Bear. “You know me better than that. Takes more than blowing up a building to take me down.” He took a step back, smiled at Mandy. “How is it possible you’ve grown so much in just a few days?”
She said nothing, stepped forward with her arms wide. Jack scooped her up and hugged her. Although Bear had been the one to assume responsibility for the child, Jack would never forget the impact she’d had on his life. Without her, the Jack Noble redemption tour would have never begun.
“Jack,” Jon said. “We need to get back to the Prime Minister.”
Bear pointed toward Alex. “I’ll be damned. Parkin is Prime Minister Parkin?”
Jon nodded.
“Man, he got old looking.”
“Politics can do that to you,” Jon said.
“So can women,” Jack said.
“And drinking,” Jon said.
“And kids,” Bear said as he nudged Mandy.
“Hey,” Mandy said. She elbowed Bear in the stomach. He pretended to buckle forward.
They walked toward the Prime Minister. A couple of agents followed a dozen feet behind.
“What are you doing here?” Jack asked Bear.
“Got a call, was told you might be in trouble. Started getting those feelings, man. You know, that something was wrong. We got some help and came over.”
&n
bsp; “Anyone I know?”
“Of course.”
“Why’d you bring the kid?”
“What else could I do? She’s my responsibility now, Jack. If she’s not with me, she’s not safe.”
“If she’s around me, she’s not safe.”
“I balance that out. Don’t forget that.”
“You always have,” Jack said.
They stopped and Jon dismissed the agents that had accompanied them. Alex walked toward them.
“Now this guy I remember.” Alex extended a hand to Bear.
“How you doing, Alex?” Bear said.
“Stressed.”
“You look it.”
“Goes with the territory.”
“So I’ve heard.”
Jon introduced Bear and Mandy to Sasha, then said, “Let’s get to that shop now so we can talk.”
The woman emerged from the store again. The bristles of her broom pushed a large pile of debris onto the sidewalk. She shuffled toward the street, stopped when she noticed the group approaching. Her gaze traveled from person to person and stopped on Jack.
“What are you doing here?” she said. “You show up, a day later the damn block explodes, and now you’re back? I should call those cops over here.”
“The cops answer to me, lady,” Jon said.
“Ma’am,” Alex said as he placed a hand on Jon’s shoulder. “We need to use your shop for a meeting.”
“Piss off,” she said as she turned and headed toward the door.
Jon stepped forward. “Do you know who you’re telling to piss off?”
She stopped, turned. “Yeah, I know who he is. But I didn’t vote for him, so he can piss off.”
Jon turned red, started toward the woman. Alex reached out again and grabbed him.
“Ma’am,” Alex said. “Either you let us use it or the police will force you to. It’s as simple as that.”
She dropped her broom. A cloud of dust kicked up when the handle hit the ground. She headed into the store and said, “Fine, use it.”
They went inside. Bear told Mandy to stay near the front door and let them know if someone approached. The girl smiled and accepted the position of lookout.